Abstract: A removable suction nozzle inlet adapter is taught for converting the suction inlet of a vacuuming nozzle from a straight line inlet to one having either a convex or concave suction inlet whereby curved carpet and/or upholstery surfaces may be vacuumed. The adapters are particularly useful for use with hand held hot water extractor nozzles upon the curved carpet surface between the step and risers of carpeted stairs and/or the curved carpet transition from the riser to the horizontal step. Further, the invention described and taught may be used to vacuum curved upholstery or carpet surfaces found in the typical household and/or automobile.

Abstract: A dirt cup latching mechanism that secures a lid onto a dirt receptacle of vacuum cleaner and simultaneously secures the dirt cup in place on the vacuum cleaner. The latching mechanism presses the lid down onto an open top of the dirt receptacle and presses the dirt receptacle down into a dirt cup retaining recess provided in a generally horizontal wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. The latching mechanism may press down on the top of an open topped dirt receptacle, with or without a lid, while simultaneously pulling the dirt cup horizontally against a generally vertical wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. Thus, the latching mechanism simultaneously presses the dirt receptacle down against one of an inlet and outlet seal located on the horizontal wall of the housing and horizontally against the other one of inlet and outlet seal on the vertical wall of the housing, thereby sealing both the receptacle inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a dirt collecting system including a latch to seal a positively pressurized dirt cup. The latch also serves to secure the dirt cup to the cleaner housing when in the closed position. The dirt cup is formed with a first dirt collecting chamber and a second dirt collecting chamber separated by an apertured wall. An inlet opening is formed in the dirt cup and communicates with the first dirt collecting chamber for inputting a stream of dirt laden air into the first dirt collecting chamber. An exhaust opening is formed in the second dirt collecting chamber for allowing the filtered air stream to exit the dirt cup. The aperture wall includes a pre-filter for filtering coarse particles from a stream of dirt laden and depositing the coarse particles in the first dirt collecting chamber. A filter member is positioned within the second dirt collecting chamber and communicates with the exhaust port.

Abstract: A tool storage door for a floor care appliance encloses a tool storage compartment formed on the floor care appliance for storing various floor care accessory tools. The tool storage door receives and supports at least one of the accessory tools. A cutout area is formed in the tool storage door for providing direct and unobstructed visibility to the accessory tool and for allowing a portion of the accessory tool to extend therethrough. A recess which is substantially complementary to the shape of the accessory tool is formed in an underside of the tool storage door for receiving the accessory tool on the tool storage door. A pair of latching tabs extends downwardly from the underside of the tool storage door for releasably retaining the accessory tool within the recess.

Abstract: An air/liquid separator is disclosed that is formed by a recovery tank having a hollow, preferably transparent, removable lid on a recovery tank of a wet pickup suction cleaner. The lid has a wall therein dividing the lid into an inlet/separating chamber and an exit chamber. Liquid and dirt entrained working air enters the inlet chamber and flows horizontally across the inlet chamber over a discharge opening passing through the lid bottom plate, such that the stream of dirty liquid and air is redirected downward through the discharge openings into the recovery tank by a pair of ribs in the inlet chamber. The exit chamber fluidly communicates with the interior of the recovery tank through an exit opening passing through the lid bottom plate. A vacuum is preferably drawn upon the exit chamber by an electric fan for providing the required working air flow through the combined air/liquid separator.

Abstract: A height adjustment mechanism for a vacuum cleaner includes a wheel carriage pivotally mounted to a foot of the vacuum cleaner, a height adjustment cam which engages the wheel carriage, and a cam actuator which attaches to the height adjustment cam for camming the height adjustment cam against the wheel carriage. The height adjustment cam is formed with a stepped bottom camming surface. The camming surface is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel ribs having a rounded outer surface which minimizes the surface-to-surface contact between the height adjustment cam and the wheel carriage. This reduced surface-to-surface contact reduces the frictional resistance between the height adjustment cam and the wheel carriage allowing the cam actuator to be easily slid for height adjustment of the vacuum cleaner foot.

Abstract: A bag housing assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a rear bag housing which forms a bag cavity and a bag door which releasably attaches to the rear bag housing for enclosing the bag cavity. One of the rear bag housing and bag door is formed of a semi-rigid flexible fabric material which is permeable to air and which is sufficiently rigid to retain a molded shape. The flexible fabric material is attached to a rigid frame member which allows the bag door to releasably attach to the rear bag housing.

Abstract: A self-propelled upright vacuum cleaner is provided having a lower portion and an upright handle portion pivotally attached to the floor engaging portion for a pivotal motion between an upright storage position and a pivotal operating position including a transmission operatively connected to a drive wheel and a motor drivingly connected to the transmission for driving the drive wheel in forward and reverse. A clutch engaging member is pivotally mounted to the floor engaging portion adjacent to the transmission for pivotal motion about a pivot axis located generally at a forward portion of the clutch engaging member. Operably associated with the clutch engaging member is a transverse linking member that reciprocates from a neutral position in first and second directions in response to pivotal motion of a bottom link. The reciprocation of the transverse link selectively moves said clutch engaging member from a neutral position to a forward drive position and a reverse drive position.

Abstract: A dirt cup latching mechanism that secures a lid onto a dirt receptacle of vacuum cleaner and simultaneously secures the dirt cup in place on the vacuum cleaner. The latching mechanism presses the lid down onto an open top of the dirt receptacle and presses the dirt receptacle down into a dirt cup retaining recess provided in a generally horizontal wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. The latching mechanism may press down on the top of an open topped dirt receptacle, with or without a lid, while simultaneously pulling the dirt cup horizontally against a generally vertical wall of the vacuum cleaner housing. Thus, the latching mechanism simultaneously presses the dirt receptacle down against one of an inlet and outlet seal located on the horizontal wall of the housing and horizontally against the other one of inlet and outlet seal on the vertical wall of the housing, thereby sealing both the receptacle inlet and outlet.